John Muir Trail - Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows - Itinerary
- About the Trip: The John Muir Trail is one of the most famous trails in the world. It is 212 miles long, beginning in Yosemite, following the spine of the Sierra Nevada southward and finishing on top of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States (14,495'). This 4-day section is considered one of the most beautiful sections of the Muir Trail. We'll travel through "Postcard Country" of the JMT past Thousand Island Lake, Below Mts Ritter and Banner and Lyell, over Donahue Pass into Yosemite National Park and through Lyell Canyon into Tuolumne Meadows. You'll just carry your water and camera each day while the mules carry all the gear!
- Group Size: 4-12 clients, 2 guides, 1 packer
- Grade: Moderate. This section of the JMT has moderate but challenging hiking in elevations ranging from 8,000'-11,000. All hiking is on trail and daily mileage is between 6-11 miles/day. You'll only be expected to carry small day pack with water, camera, light rain gear.
- Accommodations: First night spent camping in Tuolumne Meadows Campground, Yosemite National Park. Remaining nights spent camping on the trail.
- Equipment: All camping gear can be provided, sleeping bags, ground pads, tents, if requested on the registration form. You provide your personal clothing, broken-in boots and other personal items. You may print from our web page a detailed clothing/gear, directions, and this itinerary.
- Meals: All meals are provided, beginning with dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 5.
- Cost of the Trip: $1695.00 per person (8-12 person group size)
$1895.00 per person (4-7 people)
- Included: Cost of the trip includes campground and dinner at Tuolumne Meadows on Night 1, food while in the backcountry, guides, permits, group gear, daily pack stock, and private shuttle from Tuolumne Meadows to Agnew Meadows trailhead at the beginning of the trip.
- Not Included: Alcoholic beverages, personal items, transportation to meeting spot on Day 1, tips for guides and packer (10-20% of trip fee). Optional, but highly recommended trip cancellation insurance, Gate fee into Yosemite National Park ($20 per vehicle).
- Preparation: Hike. The John Muir Trail is a committing trip where you have minimum mileage each day. You should be aerobically and cardiovascularly fit, and should train by working out, carrying weight (up to 15 lbs), and hiking in your open space, around your neighborhood, stadium bleachers up & down. Reading The Guide to the John Muir Trail by Thomas Winnett will also be helpful. Stretch daily, do yoga, pilates, walk and get excited for the trip!
As with all active travel trips, the more you prepare the more you'll enjoy your trip. Participants should walk in the hiking boots they will wear on the trip, on excursions of 3-10 miles a day.
- About the Pack Station: Mules will be carrying all of our equipment and your personal gear each day. We won't be hiking with the mules and perhaps maybe not even camping with them. Pack stock regulations change frequently depending often on grazing considerations. You will need to pack your personal belongings efficiently into one mid- sized compression sack. You'll be entitled to 15 lbs of personal gear. This doesn't include your tent, bag, pad. Weight is strictly enforced for regulations in this area.
- Day 1: Arrive at Tuolumne Meadows Campground at 5 PM to meet your guide(s). We will do a final gear check and discuss the details of the trip before your guide prepares dinner in the campground. Acclimatize.
- Day 2: After breakfast we'll move our vehicles from the campground to long term parking (across the street) and then take a private shuttle to the trailhead. Hike from Agnew Meadows to the beautiful Clark Lakes, 7 miles by early afternoon. Make camp, swim and relax.
- Day 3: Connect with the JMT at the aptly named Thousand Island Lake in the morning. We then continue on to the Marie Lakes area through some of the most picturesque sub-alpine Muir Trail country in the shadow of Mt Banner (12,936) and the Kuna Crest (12,000+'). 10 miles.
- Day 4: The morning sees us past the glaciated Mt Lyell (13,114) and over Donahue Pass (11, 050). Now in Yosemite National Park, we follow the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River to Ireland Creek 11 miles.
- Day 5: Hike out to the granite-dome filled Tuolumne Meadows through Lyell Canyon 5.5 miles. A celebratory picnic lunch is provided at the trailhead.
Back to John Muir Trail - Agnew Meadows to Tuolumne Meadows
